Floor cleaning tool and method

ABSTRACT

A floor cleaning tool having a body, a cleaning solution reservoir, a brush or other rotating roll by which floor cleaning is performed, and at least one wheel enabling tool movement across a floor. In some embodiments, the tool has a rotatable handle that can be locked in two or more rotational positions, and that can be rotated about a laterally-extending axis of the handle. Some embodiments of the tool have a roll retained by a bracket having one or more axially-extending portions secured by a fastener for easy roll removal, service, and/or replacement. Some embodiment of the tool have a resiliently deformable fluid nozzle plate for easy cleaning. The tool can have a squeegee assembly that is laterally insertable (e.g., between the roll and wheels of the tool) for mounting, such as by rotatable projections insertable into a mount of the tool.

BACKGROUND

Numerous powered floor cleaning tools exist in the marketplace, each ofwhich attempt to address a large number of characteristics that arecommonly desired by users. For example, in some cases, a floor cleaningtool that can be placed in a compact state to take up minimum storagespace is of high importance. As another example, a floor cleaning tooleasily adapted to different users (e.g., user height, arm length, andthe like) is needed. Still other examples of desired floor cleaning toolcharacteristics include floor cleaning tool handles and controls thatare easy to use and intuitive, and floor cleaning tools that are easy toservice and replace (such as for removal, service, and replacement offloor cleaning tool brushes, cleaning and maintenance of internal partsof the floor cleaning tool, and removal and replacement of squeegeeblades and other parts.

Unfortunately, despite the advanced age of powered floor cleaning tooltechnology, significant advancements in each of these features has beenslow or non-existent. Nevertheless, based upon the value suchadvancements provide for users and servicers of powered floor cleaners,new and improved powered floor cleaners continue to be welcome in theindustry.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a floor cleaning tool,comprising: a housing; a reservoir coupled to the housing and adapted tohold a cleaning solution; at least one wheel by which the floor cleaningtool moves across a floor surface in a direction of travel, thedirection of travel at least partially defining a front, rear, andlateral sides of the floor cleaning tool; and a handle including aproximal end and a distal end, the handle pivotable about an axisextending laterally with respect to the direction of travel of the floorcleaning tool.

In some embodiments, a floor cleaning tool is provided, and comprises: ahousing; a roller rotatable with respect to the housing about an axisextending in an axial direction; a bracket having a first portionextending in the axial direction of the roller and shaped to releasablyand matingly engage the housing; and a second portion extending in theaxial direction of the roller and shaped to releasably and matinglyengage an end of the roller, the roller rotatable with respect to thesecond portion of the bracket; and a fastener engaged with the firstportion of the bracket, the bracket releasably and removably coupled tothe roller and to the housing via the fastener.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a method for couplinga roller to a floor cleaning tool, the roller having an axis of rotationextending in an axial direction, the method comprising: laterallyinserting the roller onto the floor cleaning tool; coupling an end ofthe roller to the floor cleaning tool by mating a spindle within areceptacle; coupling a bracket to an end of the roller; engaging aportion of the bracket extending in the axial direction with the floorcleaning tool; engaging the portion of the bracket with a fastener tosecure the bracket to the floor cleaning tool; supporting the roller forrotation with respect to the floor cleaning tool via the spindle in thereceptacle; and resisting rotation of the bracket with respect to thefloor cleaning tool via engagement of the portion of the bracket withthe floor cleaning tool.

In some embodiments, a floor cleaning tool is provided, and comprises: ahousing; a reservoir coupled to the housing and shaped to contain acleaning solution; a resiliently deformable plate coupled to the housingand defining a plurality of apertures; and a conduit extending from thereservoir to the plate and establishing fluid communication between thereservoir and the plate for delivery of cleaning solution from thereservoir, through the conduit, and through the plurality of aperturesin the resiliently deformable plate; the resiliently deformable plateremovable from the conduit and the housing for cleaning and replacement.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a floor cleaning toolcomprising: a housing; a reservoir coupled to the housing and adapted tohold a cleaning solution; a floor-engaging roller coupled to the housingand rotatable with respect to the housing; a wheel by which the floorcleaning tool moves across a floor surface in a direction of travel, thedirection of travel at least partially defining a front, rear, andlateral sides of the floor cleaning tool; a squeegee laterallyinsertable between the roller and the wheel; and a squeegee mountlocated between the roller and the wheel by which the squeegee isreleasably mounted to the floor cleaning tool.

In some embodiments, a method of installing a squeegee assembly on afloor cleaning tool adapted to move in a direction of travel defining afront, rear, and lateral sides of the floor cleaning tool is provided,and comprises: laterally inserting the squeegee assembly below the floorcleaning tool; raising the squeegee assembly to insert a projection ofthe squeegee assembly into a mating aperture of the floor cleaning tool;and rotating the projection to releasably couple the squeegee assemblyto the floor cleaning tool

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a floor cleaning toolcomprising: a housing; a handle rotatably coupled to the housing; auser-manipulatable control; and a lock coupled to the user-manipulatablecontrol, the lock movable from a locked state to an unlocked state byactuation of the user-manipulatable control, the lock maintaining thehandle in one of a plurality of rotational positions with respect to thehousing when in the locked state, releasable to permit the handle to bemoved to another of the plurality of rotational positions with respectto the housing, and movable to the locked state again to maintain thehandle in the other of the plurality of rotational positions.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a left side view of a floor cleaning tool.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the floor cleaning tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the floor cleaning tool of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the floor cleaning tool of FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 5 is a right side perspective view of the floor cleaning tool ofFIGS. 1-4, shown with a handle in a first position.

FIG. 6 is a left side perspective view of the floor cleaning tool ofFIGS. 1-5, shown with the handle in the position of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a left side perspective view of the floor cleaning tool ofFIGS. 1-6, shown with the handle in a second position.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a locking mechanism for the handleof the floor cleaning tool of FIGS. 1-7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the locking mechanism ofFIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a detail perspective cross-sectional view of the lockingmechanism of FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 11 is a detail cross-sectional view of the locking mechanism ofFIGS. 8-10.

FIG. 12 is a front view of a distal end of the floor cleaning toolhandle shown in FIGS. 1-7.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the distal end of the handle shown inFIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the distal end of the handle shown in FIGS. 12and 13.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the distal end of the handle shown in FIGS.12-14.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a front portion of the floor cleaningtool of FIGS. 1-15, shown with a cover removed.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the front portion of the floor cleaningtool of FIGS. 1-16, shown with two covers removed.

FIG. 18 is a partially exploded view of a front portion of the floorcleaning tool shown in FIGS. 1-17.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a front portion of the floorcleaning tool shown in FIGS. 1-18.

FIG. 20 is a partially exploded perspective detail view of a frontportion of the floor cleaning tool shown in FIGS. 1-19.

FIG. 21 is another partially exploded detail view of a front portion ofthe floor cleaning tool shown in FIGS. 1-20.

FIG. 22 is a partially exploded detail view of a front portion of thefloor cleaning tool shown in FIGS. 1-21.

FIG. 23 is a partially exploded perspective detail view of a frontportion of the floor cleaning tool shown in FIGS. 1-22, shown with anozzle plate partially installed.

FIG. 24 is another partially exploded perspective detail view of thefront portion of the floor cleaning tool shown in FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is another partially exploded perspective detail view of thefront portion of the floor cleaning tool shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, shownwith the nozzle plate fully installed.

FIG. 26 is a top perspective detail view of the nozzle plate of thefloor cleaning tool shown in FIGS. 1-25.

FIG. 27 is a bottom perspective detail view of the nozzle plate of thefloor cleaning tool shown in FIGS. 1-26.

FIG. 28 is a partially exploded perspective view of the floor cleaningtool shown in FIGS. 1-27, shown with a squeegee assembly prior toinstallation.

FIG. 29 is a perspective detail view of the squeegee assembly and floorcleaning tool shown in FIGS. 1-28.

FIG. 30 is a perspective detail view of the squeegee assembly of thefloor cleaning tool shown in FIGS. 1-29, shown installed on a floorcleaning tool mount.

FIG. 31 is another perspective detail view of the squeegee assembly ofthe floor cleaning tool shown in FIGS. 1-30, shown installed on a floorcleaning tool mount.

FIG. 32 is another perspective detail view of the squeegee assembly ofthe floor cleaning tool shown in FIGS. 1-31, shown installed on a floorcleaning tool mount.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement ofcomponents set forth in the following description or illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments andof being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it isto be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is forthe purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Theuse of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereofherein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalentsthereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limitedotherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled”and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct andindirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further,“connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanicalconnections or couplings.

FIGS. 1-7 illustrate a floor cleaning tool 10 according to an embodimentof the present invention. The illustrated floor cleaning tool 10includes a housing 12, first and second wheels 28 a, 28 b supporting thehousing 12 for movement across a surface, a first reservoir 30 forcontaining a cleaning product in any form (e.g., fluid, powder, and thelike), and a roller 86 for performing a cleaning operation upon thesurface. The floor cleaning tool 10 described and illustrated herein hastwo wheels 28 a, 28 b, although any other number of wheels are possible,such as for a three or four-wheeled floor cleaning tool 10. The wheels28 a, 28 b of the illustrated floor cleaning tool 10 are powered by amotor (not shown). However, in other embodiments, any or all of thewheels of the floor cleaning tool 10 can be non-powered. Also, thewheels 28 a, 28 b can take any of a number of forms well-known to thoseskilled in the art, such as wheels 28 a, 28 b mounted to rotate aboutand/or with a fixed axle, caster wheels capable of rotating and spinningto different orientations, and the like.

Although the floor cleaning tool 10 described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings includes wheels 28 a, 28 b for movement of thefloor cleaning tool 10 over a surface, it will be appreciated that othertypes of devices can be used to move the floor cleaning tool 10,including without limitation powered or un-powered tracks. For the sakeof simplicity, the term “wheel” as used herein and in the appendedclaims refers to all such moving elements.

The floor cleaning tool 10 is movable along a direction determined atleast in part by the orientation of the wheels 28 a, 28 b. For example,the illustrated floor cleaning tool 10 is movable along a direction oftravel parallel to the axis 26 shown in FIG. 3, which is determined bythe rolling direction of the illustrated wheels 28 a, 28 b. Thisdirection of travel defines opposite lateral sides 14, 16 of the floorcleaning tool 10, as well as a front 18 and rear 20 of the tool 10. Thefloor cleaning tool 10 also includes a top 22 and bottom 24.

As mentioned above, the floor cleaning tool 10 can have a reservoir 30for containing a cleaning product. The reservoir 30 can be locatedwithin the housing 12 of the floor cleaning tool 10, and can be one ofany number of reservoirs 30 containing the same or different cleaningproducts that in some embodiments can be dispensed independently fromone another, can be mixed prior to or as the cleaning products aredischarged upon a surface to be cleaned, and/or can be discharged atdifferent locations upon the surface to be cleaned.

In some embodiments, the floor cleaning tool 10 includes one or morereservoirs 32 for containing used cleaning product (see FIG. 5). Theused cleaning product can be drawn into the floor cleaning tool byvacuum force, and in some cases can pass through one or more filters tofilter the cleaning product after use and/or to recycle the usedcleaning product for re-use.

As shown in FIGS. 1-7, the illustrated floor cleaning tool 10 includes ahandle 34 having a proximal end 36 and a distal end 38. The proximal end36 is coupled to a side 14 of the housing 12 (with reference to thedirection of travel of the floor cleaning tool as described above). Inother words, the attachment location of the proximal end 36 of thehandle 34 is located completely to one lateral side of a central planebisecting the floor cleaning tool 10 (i.e., into opposite lateral sidesas described above). In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1-7, theaxis 26 described above lies in this central plane.

In some embodiments, the handle 34 is coupled for rotation relative tothe housing 12. This rotation can be about an axis 40 extendinglaterally with respect to the sides 14, 16 of the floor cleaning tool 10(described above). The distal end 38 of the handle 34 extends away fromthe housing 12 to a location disposed a distance from the body 12 of thefloor cleaning tool 10. In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1-7, thedistal end 38 of the handle 34 is substantially aligned with (i.e., lieswithin) a plane bisecting the floor cleaning tool 10 into oppositelateral sides as described above. To connect a centrally-aligned distalend 38 and a laterally-disposed proximal end 36 of the handle 34, thehandle 34 can be shaped to include an offset or “jogged” portionextending laterally at a location between the distal and proximal ends36, 38.

The floor cleaning tool 10 can include a lock 42 between the handle 34and the remainder of the floor cleaning tool 10 (e.g., between thehandle 34 and the housing 12) to releasably secure the handle 34 indifferent positions. In those embodiments in which the handle 34 isrotatable with respect to the housing 12, the lock 42 can releasablysecure the handle 34 in different rotational positions with respect tothe housing 12. By way of example, a first (deployed) position of thehandle 34 in the illustrated embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1-6, whereas asecond (stowed) position of the handle 34 is shown in FIG. 7. Any numberof additional rotational positions of the handle 34 are possible, suchas any number of positions intermediate and beyond those shown in FIGS.1-7.

By virtue of the rotatability of the handle 34 and the lock 42(described in greater detail below), a user can select a desired workingposition (e.g., height and angle) of the handle 34, and can lock thehandle 34 in that position with the lock 42. One such lock 42 isillustrated in FIGS. 8-11. The illustrated lock 42 includes a gear 44having at least one tooth, such as the plurality of teeth 46 about theperiphery of the gear 44 shown in FIGS. 8-11. The gear 44 shown in FIGS.8-11 is secured against rotation. Although the gear 44 shown in FIGS.8-11 is round, and is shown as a discrete element secured to the body 12of the floor cleaning tool 10, it will be appreciated that the gear 44can be defined by any feature of the floor cleaning tool 10, and can bea separate part attached to the floor cleaning tool or can be integralwith or defined by any portion of the floor cleaning tool 10. Forexample, the gear 44 can be defined by a set of teeth or apertures inthe body, a frame, or other element of the floor cleaning tool 10.

The lock 42 can also include one or more pawls movable to releasablyengage the teeth 46 of the gear 44. At least one such pawl can becoupled to the handle 34 to selectively engage the gear 44, and can haveone or more teeth or other protrusions shaped for this purpose. In theillustrated embodiment, two pawls 48 and 52 are coupled to the handle 34for rotation about a pin 60, although any other manner of rotationalmovement is possible. The first pawl 48 of the illustrated embodimentincludes first teeth 50 and a second pawl 52 includes second teeth 54(see FIGS. 9 and 10). Both sets of teeth 50, 54 are sized and shaped toreleasably engage the teeth 46 of the gear 44. In the illustratedembodiment, the teeth 50 of the first pawl 48 are circumferentiallyoffset with respect to the teeth 54 of the second pawl 52. In thismanner, at least one pawl 48, 52 can engage the gear 44 in a number ofrotational positions of the handle 34 with respect to the body 12. Insome embodiments, only one of the pawls 48, 52 is engaged with the gear44 in any particular rotational position of the handle 34.

By providing the circumferentially offset relationship of the teeth 50of one pawl 48 with respect to the teeth 54 of another pawl 52 in thelock 42, more locked rotational positions of the handle 34 are possiblewithout requiring the use of smaller teeth 46, 50, and/or 54—a featurethat can provide a stronger and more durable lock 42. The offsetrelationship between teeth 50, 54 of different pawls 48, 52 can alsoreduce the wear on each of the first and second pawls 48 and 52 becauseeach pawl 48 and 52 is utilized about half of the time, thus lengtheningthe operating life of the pawls 48 and 52.

In some embodiments, the first teeth 50 and the second teeth 54 can havesubstantially an identical configuration, although differentconfigurations of the teeth 50, 54 are possible. Also, although eachtooth of a set of teeth on a pawl 48, 52 can be substantially identical,in some embodiments (e.g., the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 8-11),one or more of the first teeth 50 and the second teeth 54 can have adifferent shape than the others on the same pawl 48, 52. By using teeth50, 54 of different shapes on the same pawl 48, 52, it is possible toenhance the ability of the pawls 48, 52 and gear 44 to resist movementof the handle 34 in both directions. For example, in the illustratedembodiment, a first end tooth of at least one of the first and secondsets of teeth 50, 54 is shaped to resist rotation of the handle 34 in aclockwise direction, whereas a second end tooth of at least one of thefirst and second teeth 50, 54 is shaped to resist rotation of the handle34 in a counterclockwise direction.

One or more biasing members can be utilized to bias the first and secondpawls 48, 52 (and therefore, the first and second sets of teeth 50 and54) into engagement with the gear teeth 46. In the illustratedembodiment, a first spring 56 is positioned to bias the first pawl 48against the gear 44, and a second spring 58 is positioned to bias thesecond pawl 52 against the gear 44. The illustrated springs 56 and 58are coil springs, but other biasing members can be utilized, such asleaf springs, torsion springs, elastomeric bands, blocks, or otherelements, magnets and magnet sets, and the like.

Although the floor cleaning tool 10 of the illustrated embodiment hastwo pawls 48, 52 for releasable engagement with a gear 44 as describedabove, it will be appreciated that a single pawl 48, 52 can instead beused, or that three or more pawls 48, 52 can be used, and can be offsetas also described above for greater adjustability of the handle 34.

The pawls 48, 52 of the lock 42 can be released by a user in order topermit the handle 34 to rotate to a desired position. To this end, auser-manipulatable actuator can be connected to the pawls 48, 52 inorder to pull the pawls 48, 52 out of engagement with the gear 44. Inthe illustrated embodiment, for example, a flexible actuator, such asthe illustrated cable 62, is coupled to the first and second pawls 48and 52. The cable 62 is also coupled to a user manipulable control(described in greater detail below). Actuation of the cable 62 pulls thefirst and second pawls 48, 52 out of engagement of the gear 44 andagainst the biasing force of the first and second springs 56 and 58.When the user releases the user manipulable control, the springs 56 and58 bias the respective pawl 48 and 52 back against the gear 44, suchthat at least one of the first teeth 50 and the second teeth 54 engagethe gear teeth 46 to retain the handle 34 in a fixed rotational positionwith respect to the housing 12.

In the illustrated embodiment, the pawls 48, 52 are carried by thehandle 34, and rotate to different positions upon rotation of the handle34, whereas the gear 44 is stationary with respect to the rest of thefloor cleaning tool 10. However, in other embodiments, these elements ofthe lock 42 can be reversed in position while still performing the sameor similar functions described above. In particular, the pawls 48, 52can be carried adjacent the handle 34 and can still be connected to auser-manipulatable control on the handle 34, while the gear 44 can becarried by and movable with the handle 34 for adjustment thereof.

As shown in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, thedistal end 38 of the handle 34 of the floor cleaning tool 10 can beprovided with one or more locations where a user can grip the handle 34,and one or more user-manipulatable controls by which functions of thefloor cleaning tool 10 can be performed. The user manipulable control ofthe floor cleaning tool illustrated in FIGS. 12-15 is presented by wayof example, and includes a hand grip portion 64 positioned at the distalend 38 of the handle 34. The hand grip portion 64 can include a centralhorn 66 having first and second grips 68 and 70 extending therefrom toprovide graspable portions for a user. In some embodiments, the grips68, 70 are generally cylindrical in shape, lie in a common plane, andconverge together to define an obtuse angle therebetween (i.e., tocreate a generally chevron shape). Other grip shapes and orientationsare possible. The illustrated hand grip portion 64 also includes a C- orU-shaped portion 72 extending from an end of the first grip 68, aroundthe horn 66, and to an end of the second grip 70. The C-shaped portion72 can be attached to and at least partially covers an outboard end ofeach grip 68, 70, and can be attached to the distal end 38 of the handle34 in any suitable manner. The grips 68, 70, central horn 66, and C- orU-shaped portion 72 cooperate to define a first aperture 74 and a secondaperture 76.

The hand grip portion 64 can include any of a number ofuser-manipulatable controls connected to components of the floorcleaning tool 10 to control (for example) speed and direction of thefloor cleaning tool 10 across a surface, dispense of a cleaning productby the floor cleaning tool 10, recovery of the cleaning product,movement of the pawls 48 and 52 to adjust the handle position (describedin greater detail above), and the like.

The illustrated hand grip portion 64 includes a first actuator 78extending from the horn 66 into the first aperture 74, and a secondactuator 80 extending from the horn 66 into the second aperture 76. Insome embodiments, the first and second actuators 78, 80 are operable tocontrol at least one of dispensing and recovering a cleaning solutionand releasable securing the handle 34. The illustrated hand grip portion64 further includes a third actuator 82 extending from the firstcylindrical portion 68 into the first aperture 74, and a fourth actuator84 extending from the second cylindrical portion 70 into the secondaperture 76. In some embodiments, the third and fourth actuators 82 and84 are operable to control at least one of speed and direction ofmovement of the floor cleaning tool 10. Further actuators can beprovided on the horn 66, as desired. Also, any of the actuatorsdescribed above can perform multiple functions, such as to also providea connection location for the cable 62 extending to the handle lock 42described above (thereby generating retraction of the pawls 48 and 52from engagement with the gear 44 when actuated).

The actuators 78, 80, 82 and 84 illustrated in FIGS. 12-15 arepositioned within the first and second apertures 74 and 76 to inhibitaccidental actuation, although any other locations of the actuators onthe hand grip portion 64 are possible. Also, the first and secondapertures 74 and 76 shown in FIGS. 12-15 are shaped and dimensioned tobe graspable by a user, such that a user's fingers can extend through atleast a portion of the first and second apertures 74 and 76.

The floor cleaning tool 10 can support a number of different cleaningimplements. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 16-22, the floorcleaning tool 10 supports a roller 86 coupled for rotation with respectto the housing 12 and positioned to engage a floor surface. The roller86 can take any cleaning implement form desired, and in the illustratedembodiment is a brush roller. The roller 86 is positioned on the bottom24 of the housing 12 near the front 18 of the housing 12, and extendsalong a roller axis 88, which can be substantially parallel to thehandle axis 40 described above. The roller 86 can be coupled forrotation by a motor 90 or other suitable driving arrangement in anymanner desired, such as by a belt and pulley or chain and sprocketconnection, a direct drive connection, a geared connection, and thelike.

The roller 86 in the illustrated embodiment is supported for rotation bya bracket 92. The bracket 92 can have a spindle 94 extending therefromand sized to support the roller 86 for rotation. Alternatively, thebracket 92 can have a socket within which a spindle of or connected tothe roller 86 is rotatably received. The bracket 92 can include a firstflange 96 extending into mating engagement with an aperture (e.g., arecess) in the housing 12. The illustrated first flange 96 extends in asubstantially axial direction with respect to the axis of rotation 88 ofthe roller 86, and defines an aperture (e.g., slot 98 in FIGS. 16-22)for receiving a fastener therethrough. In the illustrated embodiment, asingle fastener 100 is utilized to secure the bracket 92 to the housing12, can be loosened or tightened by hand (i.e., without the use oftools), and can be threaded into and out of a threaded aperture in thehousing 12 or other structural member of the floor cleaning tool 10. Thebracket 92 can also include a second flange 102 and a third flange 104,either of both of which extend in a substantially axial direction withrespect to the axis of rotation 88 of the roller 86 for matingengagement with respective apertures (e.g., recesses) in the front 18 ofthe housing 12. Any two or more of the flange engagements describedabove can cooperate to inhibit rotation of the bracket 92 with respectto the housing 12.

It will be appreciated that other sizes, shapes, quantities andlocations of flanges 96, 102 and 104 (any or all of which can be axiallyextending to matingly engage with the housing 12 or other structuralmember of the floor cleaning tool 10) are possible and are considered tobe within the scope of the present invention. The bracket 92 can alsoinclude one or more wall rollers 106 positioned to engage a wall surfaceand inhibit the floor cleaning tool 10 from scratching or otherwisedamaging the wall surface.

With continued reference to the floor cleaning tool embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 16-22, the roller 86 can be removed without the useof tools by rotating the single fastener 100 by hand, removing thebracket 92 from the housing 12, and laterally (axially) withdrawing theroller 86 from the housing 12. In some cases, removal of the bracket 92from the housing 12 is sufficient to disengage the roller 86 from thehousing 12, whereas in other embodiments, the roller 86 is movedlaterally (axially) to cause such disengagement as well as to remove theroller 86. In some embodiments, the roller 86 is conveniently removablefrom the housing 12 in a purely lateral (axial) direction. The roller 86can be cleaned and re-inserted, or can be replaced by a new and/ordifferent roller suitable for a different floor cleaning operation. Theroller 86 can be replaced in the illustrated embodiment without the useof tools inserting the roller 86 into the housing 12 in a purely lateral(axial) direction. The bracket 92 can then be positioned on the housing12 such that the flanges 96, 102 and 104 matingly engage the housing 12.The fastener 100 can then be re-attached to the housing 12 to secure thebracket 92 to the housing 12. The fastener 100 can be tightened by hand,without the use of tools. In this manner, the bracket 92 can bepositioned exterior to the housing 12 and exterior to the roller 86, andcan be quickly and conveniently removed and replaced by hand by a userfor access to the roller 86 inside.

Some embodiments of the present invention include one or more lengths ofconduit 108 fluidly coupled to the first reservoir 30 to direct fluidfrom the first reservoir 30 to one or more fluid chambers 110 (seesingle fluid chamber 110 in FIG. 19, for example). The fluid chamber 110can be defined by a recess 112 in the housing 12 and a cover plate 114coupled to the housing 12, although any other combination of housing andadditional components defining the fluid chamber 110 is possible, andfalls within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The illustrated cover plate 114 includes a first inlet 116 and a secondinlet 118 fluidly coupled to respective conduits 108 leading to thefirst reservoir 30, although any number of inlets and conduits 108supplying liquid from the first reservoir are possible. The illustratedrecess 112 of the fluid chamber 110 defines a plurality of apertures 120that are aligned substantially along a line. In other embodiments, theplurality of apertures 120 can be arranged in any other manner desired,such as in a staggered fashion, in two or more rows of apertures 120,and the like. Also, the apertures 120 in the illustrated embodiment aresubstantially round, although any other shape or combination of apertureshapes having larger or smaller sizes can be used as desired, such aselongated apertures separated by the same, larger, or smaller distances,star-shaped apertures in any desired arrangement, and the like.

A nozzle plate 122 can be positioned in the recess 112, and can beshaped to have a plurality of protrusions 124 that in some embodimentscan substantially correspond to the shape and size of the plurality ofapertures 120 described above. As shown in FIGS. 19, 23 and 24, theplurality of protrusions 124 are each received in a respective aperture120, and are thereby supported within the apertures 120. The protrusions124 are shown in greater detail in FIG. 27. With reference to FIGS. 19and 23-27, the nozzle plate 122 includes a plurality of apertures 126,such that each aperture 126 is positioned in a respective protrusion124. The apertures 126 can have a relatively large diameter adjacent thefluid chamber 110, and a relatively small diameter below the fluidchamber 110, or in other embodiments can have a substantially constantdiameter through the nozzle plate 122. The size of the relatively smalldiameter portion of the apertures 126 in the illustrated embodiment canhelp to regulate the delivery of fluid onto the floor surface.

The mating relationship between the apertured protrusions 124 of thenozzle plate 122 and the apertures 120 of the fluid chamber 110 performsthe functions of registering the nozzle plate 122 in proper positionwithin the fluid chamber 110 and providing support for the nozzle plate122 in that position. However, it will be appreciated that these twofunctions can be performed in other manners, such as by receiving anapertured channel in the nozzle plate 122 within a mating open channelin the fluid chamber 110, by clamping peripheral edges of an aperturednozzle plate 122 between portions of the housing 12 at least partiallydefining the fluid chamber 110, and the like, any of which can utilizenozzle plates 122 having different shapes (e.g., with or withoutprotrusions 124).

In some embodiments, the nozzle plate 122 is removable and replaceablewithin the fluid chamber 110. The nozzle plate 122 can be resilientlydeformable, and can comprise an elastomeric or other flexible, resilientmaterial such as rubber, neoprene, urethane, latex, and the like. Theresiliently deformable nozzle plate 122 can be removed from the fluidchamber 110, cleaned, and replaced in the fluid chamber 110. Theresiliently deformable nature of the nozzle plate 122 permits a user todeflect the nozzle plate 122 to ease cleaning operations, such as forremoving scale, lime, and other mineral buildup on the nozzle plate 122.In some embodiments, the cleaning tool 10 can include multiple nozzleplates 122, each of which has differently numbered, arranged, sizedand/or shaped apertures. This permits a user to determine the desiredtype and volume of cleaning solution flowing from the fluid chamber 110to a floor surface over a given period of time. Also, a wiping blade 128can be coupled to the front 18 of the housing 12 to strip fluid as thefloor cleaning tool 10 is moved in a rearward direction. In someembodiments, the wiping blade 128 is movable to different heights (e.g.,triggered by an actuator 80, described in greater detail below) tofacilitate this function.

Some embodiments of the present invention include one or more squeegeesfor assisting in floor cleaning operations. An example of such asqueegee is used in the squeegee assembly 140 illustrated in FIGS.28-32. The squeegee assembly 140 can be positioned to engage the bottom24 of the floor cleaning tool 10, and is positioned between the roller86 and the first and second wheels 28 a, 28 b. The squeegee assembly 140can be positioned to engage a floor surface during operation of thefloor cleaning tool 10. The illustrated squeegee assembly 140 includes afirst squeegee 142 and a second squeegee 144 spaced from the firstsqueegee 142, although a single squeegee or three or more squeegees caninstead be used in other embodiments (e.g., side-by-side with respect toone another, each following another in movement of the floor cleaningtool across a surface, and the like). The first and second squeegees142, 144 of the illustrated embodiment have a concave shape designed todirect cleaning solution to a center of the squeegee assembly 140. Also,the first blade 142 can define a recess 146 to permit cleaning solutionto enter a vacuum area between the first and second squeegees 142, 144.

The illustrated squeegee assembly 140 further includes a plate 148coupled to and retaining an upper portion of the first and secondsqueegees 142, 144. The illustrated plate 148 has an aperture 150therein, which in some embodiments can be generally aligned with therecess 146, but which in any case can be used as a location throughwhich a vacuum is drawn from the area defined between the squeegees 142,144, the plate 148, and the floor surface. Any number of vacuumapertures 150 can be used for this purpose. A length of conduit (notshown) can be coupled to each such aperture 150 and to the secondreservoir 32 to permit recovery of cleaning product from the floorsurface.

The illustrated squeegee assembly 140 also includes first, second andthird vertical guide wheels 152 a, 152 b, 152 c that can orient thesqueegee assembly 140 at a desired height and angle with respect to theground surface, although any other number and location of such wheels ispossible in other embodiments. The squeegee assembly 140 can alsoinclude any number of horizontal guide wheels 154 a, 154 b that can rollwhen in contact with a surface (such as a wall).

The squeegee assembly 140 further includes at least one fasteneroperable to removably couple the squeegee assembly 140 to the floorcleaning tool 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the squeegee assembly140 includes first and second protrusions 156, 158 on opposite sides ofthe squeegee assembly 140. A squeegee assembly mount 160 can be providedbeneath the floor cleaning tool 10, and can be coupled to the housing12, a frame of the tool 10, or any other structural member of the tool10 in order to suspend or otherwise support the squeegee assembly 140 onthe tool 10 when connected thereto. The squeegee assembly mount 160illustrated in FIGS. 28-32 has first and second apertures 162, 164 onopposite sides of the squeegee assembly mount 160 (i.e., on the firstside 14 of the tool 10, and on the second side 16 of the tool 10,respectively). The first aperture 162 is sized and shaped to receive thefirst protrusion 156 when the first protrusion 156 is in a firstorientation, and is sized and shaped to retain the first protrusion 156when the first protrusion 156 is in a second orientation. Similarly, thesecond aperture 164 is sized and shaped to receive the second protrusion158 when the second protrusion 158 is in a first orientation, and sizedand shaped to retain the second protrusion 158 when the secondprotrusion 158 is in a second orientation. In some embodiments, thefirst orientation is rotated about 90 degrees from the secondorientation. In the illustrated embodiment, the apertures 162, 164 andthe protrusions 156, 158 are generally diamond-shaped, and the apertures162, 164 are closed (i.e., not open to an edge of the squeegee assemblymount 160). However, other aperture and protrusion numbers, shapes,sizes, and locations can be utilized to selectively couple the squeegeeassembly 140 to the floor cleaning tool 10.

The squeegee assembly mount 160 can include one or more detents orprotrusions to retain the protrusions 156, 158 in their first and/orsecond orientations. In the illustrated embodiment, two projections 166,168 are positioned on the squeegee assembly mount 160 to retain thefirst and second protrusions 156, 158 in their respective secondorientations.

In some embodiments, the squeegee assembly 140 can be removed withoutthe use of tools by rotating the protrusions 156, 158 from theirrespective second orientations to their respective first orientations,and then lowering the squeegee assembly 140 to draw the protrusions 156,158 through and out of their respective apertures 162, 164 in thesqueegee assembly mount 160. The squeegee assembly 140 can then belaterally removed from the floor cleaning tool 10 either at the firstside 14 or at the second side 16 of the floor cleaning tool.Accordingly, the squeegee assembly 140 can be removed in a vertical,then horizontal and lateral direction from between the roller 86 and thewheels 28 a, 28 b of the floor cleaning tool 10 without lifting ortilting the floor cleaning tool 10. The squeegee assembly 140 can thenbe cleaned, serviced, repaired (for example, by replacement of one ormore of the blades 142, 144) or exchanged, and then the new or repairedsqueegee assembly 140 can be inserted. The squeegee assembly 140 can becoupled to the housing 12 without the use of tools by laterallyinserting the squeegee 140 into the housing 12 in a lateral directionbetween the roller 86 and the wheels 28 a, 28 b of the floor cleaningtool 10. The squeegee assembly 140 can then be raised in a verticaldirection to insert the protrusions 156, 158 into their respectiveapertures 162, 164 in the squeegee assembly mount 160. The protrusions156, 158 are then rotated from their respective first orientations totheir respective second orientations. The projections 166, 168 canretain the respective protrusions 156, 158 in their second orientationsto retain the squeegee assembly 140 mounted on the floor cleaning tool10. It should also be noted that the protrusions 156, 158 can be rotatedby hand (i.e., without the use of tools).

The embodiments of the present invention described above and illustratedin the accompanying figures are presented by way of example only, andare not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of thepresent invention. As such, it will be appreciated by one havingordinary skill in the art that various changes in the elements and theirconfiguration and arrangement are possible without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention.

1. A floor cleaning tool, comprising: a housing; a reservoir coupled tothe housing and adapted to hold a cleaning solution; at least one wheelby which the floor cleaning tool moves across a floor surface in adirection of travel, the direction of travel at least partially defininga front, rear, and lateral sides of the floor cleaning tool; and ahandle including a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal endpositioned on one side of the tool and the distal end positioned on acenter line of the tool, the handle pivotable about an axis locatedabove the wheel and extending laterally with respect to the direction oftravel of the floor cleaning tool.
 2. The floor cleaning tool of claim1, wherein a portion of the handle between the proximal and distal endsextends substantially parallel and spaced from the center line.
 3. Thefloor cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein the handle is pivotable aboutthe axis between a deployed position in which the distal end of thehandle is located at least partially behind the housing and a stowedposition in which at least part of the handle is rotated to a positionforward of the deployed position.
 4. The floor cleaning machine of claim3, wherein the handle extends at least partially forward of the floorcleaning tool in the stowed position of the handle.
 5. The floorcleaning machine of claim 1, further including a lock coupled to thehandle and having a locked state in which the lock releasably securesthe handle in at least one rotational position about the axis, and anunlocked state in which the handle is rotatable about the axis.
 6. Thefloor cleaning machine of claim 4, wherein the handle has a plurality ofrotational positions about the axis in which the lock releasably securesthe handle in each of the plurality of rotational positions.
 7. Thefloor cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of thehandle is rotatably mounted by a joint located on one side of the tool.8. The floor cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein the handle extends fromthe distal end located on the center line of the tool, laterally andforwardly to the one side of the tool, and to the proximal end locatedat the one side of the tool. 9-21. (canceled)
 22. A floor cleaning tool,comprising: a housing; a reservoir coupled to the housing and shaped tocontain a cleaning solution; a resiliently deformable plate coupled tothe housing and defining a plurality of apertures; and a conduitextending from the reservoir to the plate and establishing fluidcommunication between the reservoir and the plate for delivery ofcleaning solution from the reservoir, through the conduit, and throughthe plurality of apertures in the resiliently deformable plate; theresiliently deformable plate removable from the conduit and the housingfor cleaning and replacement.
 23. The floor cleaning tool of claim 22,further comprising a recess within the housing defining a plurality ofapertures, the recess sized to removably receive the resilientlydeformable plate.
 24. The floor cleaning tool of claim 23, wherein theresiliently deformable plate defines a plurality of protrusions sized tobe received in respective ones of the plurality of apertures within therecess, and wherein each of the protrusions includes an aperture definedthrough the resiliently deformable plate.
 25. (canceled)
 26. The floorcleaning tool of claim 22, wherein the apertures have a varyingcross-sectional size through the resiliently deformable plate.
 27. Thefloor cleaning tool of claim 22, wherein the resiliently deformableplate is located at a bottom of a chamber within the housing positionedto receive cleaning solution from the conduit.
 28. The floor cleaningtool of claim 22, wherein the resiliency deformable plate is made of anelastomeric material. 29-38. (canceled)
 39. A floor cleaning toolcomprising: a housing; a handle having a proximal end rotatably coupledto the housing and a distal end; a user-manipulatable control positionedadjacent the distal end of the handle; and a lock coupled to theuser-manipulatable control, the lock movable from a locked state to anunlocked state by actuation of the user-manipulatable control, the lockmaintaining the handle in one of a plurality of rotational positionswith respect to the housing when in the locked state, releasable topermit the handle to be moved to another of the plurality of rotationalpositions with respect to the housing, and movable to the locked stateagain to maintain the handle in the other of the plurality of rotationalpositions.
 40. The floor cleaning tool of claim 39, further comprising afirst member rotatable with the handle, the first member comprising atleast one tooth releasably engageable with a set of teeth to selectivelyinhibit rotation of the handle with respect to the housing, and whereinthe first member is rotatable with respect to the handle between alocked position in which the at least one tooth engages a portion of theset teeth and an unlocked position in which the at least one tooth isspaced from the portion of the set of teeth.
 41. The floor cleaning toolof claim 40, wherein the set of teeth are on a gear fixed with respectto the housing, and wherein the first member rotates into contact withthe gear in the locked position and out of contact with the gear in theunlocked position.
 42. The floor cleaning tool of claim 40, furthercomprising a second member rotatable with the handle, the second membercomprising at least one tooth rotatably and releasably engageable withthe set of teeth to selectively inhibit rotation of the handle withrespect to the housing.
 43. The floor cleaning tool of claim 42, whereinthe tooth of the first member is offset from the tooth of the secondmember such that only one of the tooth of the first member and the toothof the second member engages the set of teeth in at least one rotationalposition of the handle with respect to the housing.
 44. The floorcleaning tool of claim 40, further comprising a biasing memberpositioned to bias the tooth of the first member into engagement withthe set of teeth.